31 Januari 2017

An SAF Terrex ICV being offloaded from the ship onto a low-bed trailer. (photo : Sing Mindef)The nine Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Terrex Infantry Carrier Vehicles (ICVs) and other equipment arrived in Singapore today at 1440hrs and will be transported to an SAF Camp for post-training administration.

The SAF Terrex ICVs and other equipment will be transported to an SAF Camp for post-training administration. (photo : Sing Mindef)The standard post-training administration for all vehicles and equipment include thorough serviceability checks and routine maintenance.(Sing Mindef)

Propeller of the A400M M54-01 (photo : avgeekmy)After a long transcontinental trip, on January 16, 2017 the first A400M of the RMAF (M54-01) landing in Spain. Airbus Defense and Space (DS) was officially delivered this aircraft on 10 January 2015 to the Royal Malaysian Air Force at the San Pablo plant in Seville.The M54-01 landed at the airport of Getafe (Madrid), next to the Airbus plant, and would have to undergone the retrofit of its propeller, would solve the problem detected in gearboxes or the Engine Propeller Gearboxes, that build by the Italian company Avio Aero, a subsidiary company of the North American General Electrics.Malaysian A400m will undergo retrofit in Getafe, Madrid. In February, 2016 A400M of the French Air Force has completed this work at the Iberia Maintenance, Madrid, which also performs tasks of Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO), with collaboration with Airbus DS.(Defensa)

HMAS Hobart has gone to sea for its acceptance trials. (all photos : Aus DoD)The future Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) Hobart on monday morning departed the wharf at Techport Australia to commence a second round of more advanced Sea Trials off the coast of South Australia.

Known as ‘Sea Acceptance Trials’ they follow the successful completion of ‘Builder Sea Trials’ in September 2016 which tested Hobart’s hull, propulsion and navigation systems.

AWD Program Manager Commodore Craig Bourke said this second phase of more advanced trials will test Hobart’s full suite of Mission Systems, involving both platform systems and combat systems.

“These trials are the culmination of all of the preceding design, production, activation, integration and test activities conducted on Hobart to date,” Commodore Bourke said.

“Sea Acceptance Trials are a significant milestone for the Project as it is the first time that the AWD will be tested as a complete Mission System.”

In order to fully test the ship, Hobart will work closely with a range of fighter aircraft, surface ships and helicopters, as well as other civilian platforms in a range of simulated scenarios.

Raytheon Australia’s Managing Director, Michael Ward noted the complexity and sophistication of the AWD combat system which will be tested during the trials.

“As the combat systems integrator for the AWD project, Raytheon Australia has applied its highly skilled Australian workforce of 350 architects, systems engineers and project managers to the AWD project over the last decade.”

“Raytheon Australia is responsible for the integration of ten major subsystems, including the Aegis Weapon System, which is provided through Foreign Military Sales, and associated delivery of more than 3,500 major pieces of combat system equipment required to establish the warfighting capability of the AWD. This will contribute to making the AWD the most lethal and sophisticated warship ever operated by the Royal Australian Navy.”

“The success of the combat system integration activity is a source of tremendous pride for Raytheon Australia. Not only have we performed admirably on this project but we have built for Australia a national asset in combat system integration,” Mr Ward said.

For ASC Shipbuilding CEO Mark Lamarre, these trials provide the formal testing and acceptance phase for the platform system.

AWD Alliance General Manager Paul Evans said the Alliance is looking forward to the successful completion of ‘Sea Acceptance Trials’ as a pre-requisite to enable the AWD Alliance to deliver Hobart to the Commonwealth in mid-2017.

“On delivery of our first Air Warfare Destroyer, the Royal Australian Navy will gain a new and potent capability it has never before possessed, and the most capable and lethal warship it has ever operated,” Mr Evans said.(Aus AWD)

What’s in the package?BTR-4M in its standard version equipped with uninhabited combat turret BM-7 “Parus” with a 30-mm automatic gun ZTM-1, 30 mm grenade launcher and 7,76 automatic gun, “Barrier” antitank guided missile system, however a number of different combat turrets are available for integration depending on the customer’s needs.

Increase budget needed to buy modern equipment for AFP (photo : Update)Lorenzana says Congress needs to boost Defense budgetMANILA (PNA) --- There is a strong need for the House of Representatives to increase the budget of the Department of National Defense (DND) to enable it to acquire modern equipment for the military.This was disclosed by DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana in a press briefing Thursday."You know I have been talking to some of the congressmen, I told them, we should increase our budget, we have been underfunded for the past 50 years so that we cannot buy modern equipment," he said in Filipino.Lorenzana cited the case of Singapore, which is a relatively small country compared to the Philippines and yet spends around three percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) for its defense needs.In contrast, he said the Philippines is only spending some 1.2 percent of its GDP for defense."That's why (Singapore) has more aircraft, more ships, they have more of everything, including 50 urban protection vehicles which they bought in France for 3 million Singaporean dollars each. They also have tanks. Their only problem is that they don't have any area for exercises," Lorenzana said.Due to low budget for DND for decades, he said the Philippine military is very far behind its Southeast Asian neighbors.Lorenzana said that allocating 2.4 percent to 2.5 percent of the GDP for defense expenditures will be fair."Well we are now (spending) maybe 1.2 percent, if they will double that to 2.4 percent or 2.5 percent, we'll be very happy with that," he said(PNA)

HMA Ships Anzac, Parramatta and Melbourne conduct a formation departure from Fleet Base East. (All photos: RAN)The lead ship of Royal Australian Navy’s Anzac-class frigates departed Fleet Base East in Sydney for the first time in 2017 to begin her deployment work ups.HMAS Anzac sailed out in formation with HMA Ships Melbourne and Parramatta.Coming out of a maintenance period, Anzac headed for the East Australian Exercise Area, the Australian Defence Force training zone off the New South Wales coast.

Anzac Class frigates HMAS Anzac and Parramatta (photo : RAN)Anzac’s first week at sea included a ‘shakedown’ period, designed to refresh the knowledge and training of ship’s company, in addition to teaching the ‘new joiners’ what is required in order to live and fight in the maritime environment.Several warfare exercises were conducted while underway, including force protection harbour entries and air warfare training serials.Upon her return to Fleet Base East, Anzac will embark members of Sea Training Group to commence a formal training and assessment phase. The Group are responsible for delivering effective training to the Navy’s Fleet, and will train and assess Anzac’s readiness across all disciplines.

HMAS Melbourne (photo : RAN)In another milestone for the frigate, HMAS Anzac completed an Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile firing against an airborne target in late 2016, for the first time since her since her Anti-Ship Missile Defence upgrade in 2014.The milestone was achieved during her Sea Qualification Trials as Anzac proved the capability of her weapon and sensor systems. The firing took place after the frigate’s maintenance period and completing she completed the Mariner Skills Evaluation, which allowed the ship to safely proceed to sea.(Naval Today)

28 Januari 2017

Texstars canopy and windshield transparencies (photo : Texstars)Grand Prairie, Texas – Texstars LLC, a leading innovator and manufacturer of aerospace transparencies and plastics, was awarded a multi-year Engineering & Manufacturing Development (EMD) contract from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI). Under the EMD contract and working closely with the KAI design team, Texstars will develop flight-qualified canopy and windshield transparencies for the KF-X single-seat and tandem-seat advanced multirole fighter aircraft.Texstars will provide the KF-X fighter with bird-strike resistant transparencies with high-quality optics. The company’s extensive manufacturing know-how will provide KAI with transparency systems that operate in the extreme flight conditions of the KF-X fighter while providing maximum survivability and pilot safety.Texstars has significant experience providing single- and tandem-seat transparency configurations for a variety of platforms. Texstars co-developed the F-16 transparencies and has been the primary producer since 1977. The company is also a long-time supplier for the B-1B, B-2, E-2C/D, EA-6B, A-10, F-15 and many other fixed-wing aircraft.(Texstars)

Denel received the R3.7 billion contract in 2011 to develop, manufacture, supply, deliver and commission the turrets. The contract requires industrial participation in Malaysia and as a result the production and assembly are taking place in that country.In its latest annual report, Denel noted that, “The contract execution has been extended by two years to nine years due to the economic situation in the end-user country. The required industrial participation activities have been implemented and the first systems have been successfully manufactured, assembled and tested in the end-user country. The base value of the programme is R3.7bn and revenue of R1.193bn (2014/15: R590m) was recognised during the 2015/16 financial year.”The Malaysian contract, the largest export contract in Denel’s history, is seeing Denel Land Systems responsible for 69 two man turrets fitted with the South African GI30 30mm main gun; 54 missile turrets equipped with the GI30 30mm gun and Denel Dynamics Ingwe anti-tank missile system (the order also includes the supply of 216 laser-guided Ingwe missiles); and 54 remote control weapons systems.

Denel LCT30 turret (photo : Cari)The annual report said key highlights and achievements over the last financial year included the completion of the light combat turret (LCT) 30 product baseline and the assembly of 20 LCT30 systems for Malaysia.Through the contract Denel is participating in the Malaysian Economic Enhancement programme which entails the production and assembly of the turrets in Malaysia. The agreement provides a platform to transfer weapon system integration technology to DefTech in order to create a sustainable capability in Malaysia.Manufacturing of the turrets grew out of Denel Land System’s development of the Badger infantry combat vehicle on behalf of the South African Army.(Defenceweb)

For 2017 nominal GDP of the Philippines was estimated $ 412.909 billion (photo : Beam Magnum)Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana is hoping that Congress would allocate more than two percent of the country's gross domestic product to defense spending.Lorenzana made the remark even as the Department of National Defense continues to have one of the biggest allocations with P134.5 billion under the P3.35-trillion national budget for 2017."You know I've been talking to some of the congressmen. Sabi ko sa kanila we should increase our budget. We have been underfunded for the past 50 years kaya hindi tayo makabili ng equipment e," Lorenzana said.Lorenzana said Singapore was spending three percent of its GDP for defense while other countries in Southeast Asia were spending at least two percent."That's why they have more aircraft, they have more ships, they have more everything," Lorenzana said."Well. we are now having maybe 1.2. Siguro kung doblehin lang nila, doblehin lang nila yung 1.2, mga 2.4, 2.5... We'll be happy with that," he added.Lorenzana said the Philippines was lagging behind in the region because the country didn't want to spend."Hindi puwedeng magtipid tayo diyan dahil mahuhuli ka and then before you know it, kawawang kawawa ka sa paningin ng iba," Lorenzana said."So i hope that the Congress could also give us sufficient funds," he added.Anoa-Singa revivalMeanwhile, Lorenzana said the AFP was looking to revive its bilateral military exercises with Singapore called the "Anoa-Singa."Lorenzana said Singapore—despite being a small country of only six million people—had improved its defense capabilities since the exercises were suspended."We will look into that, for the revival of that Anoa-Singa, maganda kasi yan e dahil we could also learn a lot from the Singaporeans," Lorenzana said."They have also developed their defense industries, gumagawa sila ng kanyon, gumagawa sila ng terex, the terex is the infantry fighting vehicle," he added.Lorenzana said he and Singaporean Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen will have further discussions on the matter which he hopes would lead to a new round of exercises by 2018."We talked about it, sabi niya we'll talk some more about this so that... Gusto rin nilang mangyari yun [Anoa-Singa], they would like to conduct exercises with us also," Lorenzana said."If we can finish the discussion this year and look at the [memorandum of understanding] again maybe we can implement that next year," he added.(GMANetwork)

Improved Kilo class submarine (photo : Defencetalk)MANILA (PNA) -- Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the country is now evaluating Russia's offer to sell the Philippines some of its advanced diesel-electric submarines.The DND chief, in a press briefing Thursday, said they are now determining on whether these specialized ships are essential for the modernization needs of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and whether the country can afford to acquire and maintain such an expensive weapons platform.However, Lorenzana said Russia diesel-electrics submarines are considered to be one of the best in the world.Six variants of the Russian-made Kilo-class submarines are now being operated by Vietnam People's Navy.The Armed Forces of the Philippines is expected to acquire its own diesel-electric class submarines during the 2nd Horizon of the AFP Modernization Program which is expected to begin this 2018 and end on 2022.Kilo-class diesel-electric submarines are mainly intended for anti-shipping and anti-submarine operations in relatively shallow waters. (PNA)

FA-50PH fighter trainer aircraft (photo : Lester Tangco)AFP to acquire PHP23.7-M worth of spares, component for unscheduled maintenance of FA-50PHsMANILA (PNA) -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is allocating some PHP23,706,000 for the acquisition of spare parts and components needed for the unscheduled maintenance of one of its four Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI)-made FA-50PH "Fighting Eagle" jet fighters.Pre-bid conference is scheduled on Jan. 26, at 9 a.m. at the Philippine Air Force Procurement Center Conference Roon, Villamor Air Base, Pasay City.While bid opening is on Feb. 8, at 9 a.m. at the same venue.The PAF currently has four FA-50PHs in its inventory. Another eight are scheduled to be deliver this year and the next.The 12-plane order from KAI is worth PHP18.9 billion.The FA-50PHs has a top speed of Mach 1.5 or one and a half times the speed of sound and is capable of being fitted air-to-air missiles, including the AIM-9 "Sidewinder" air-to-air and heat-seeking missiles aside from light automatic cannons.It will act as the country's interim fighter until the Philippines get enough experience of operating fast jet assets and money to fund the acquisition of more capable fighter aircraft.The FA-50PH design is largely derived from the F-16 "Fighting Falcon", and they have many similarities: use of a single engine, speed, size, cost, and the range of weapons.KAI's previous engineering experience in license-producing the KF-16 was a starting point for the development of the FA-50PHs.The aircraft can carry two pilots in tandem seating. The high-mounted canopy developed by Hankuk Fiber is applied with stretched acrylic, providing the pilots with good visibility, and has been tested to offer the canopy with ballistic protection against four-pound objects impacting at 400 knots.The altitude limit is 14,600 meters (48,000 feet), and airframe is designed to last 8,000 hours of service.There are seven internal fuel tanks with capacity of 2,655 liters (701 US gallons), five in the fuselage and two in the wings.An additional 1,710 liters (452 US gallons) of fuel can be carried in the three external fuel tanks.Trainer variants have a paint scheme of white and red, and aerobatic variants white, black, and yellow.The FA-50PHs uses a single General Electric F404-102 turbofan engine license-produced by Samsung Techwin, upgraded with a full authority digital engine control system jointly developed by General Electric and KAI.The engine consists of three-staged fans, seven axial stage arrangement, and an afterburner.Its engine produces a maximum of 78.7 kN (17,700 lbf) of thrust with afterburner. (PNA)

Terrex Vehicle (photo : The Online Citizen)SINGAPORE - The Hong Kong authorities will release the nine Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) armoured vehicles that they had detained since last November.In a statement on Tuesday (Jan 24), Singapore's Foreign Affairs Ministry said Hong Kong's Chief Executive Leung Chun Ying replied to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's earlier letter to inform him that the Hong Kong authorities have completed their investigations, "and will be releasing the SAF Terrex Infantry Carrier Vehicles and other equipment to the Singapore Government through the carrier"."This is a positive outcome," the ministry said."Prime Minister Lee has replied to Chief Executive Leung to thank him for Hong Kong's cooperation in resolving this matter."Hong Kong Customs had, on Nov 23, detained the nine Terrex vehicles and other equipment on board a container ship that was transiting in Hong Kong.The vehicles were bound for Singapore after a SAF military exercise in Taiwan.The shipment was impounded because vessel owner APL had failed to provide appropriate permits for the vehicles, the South China Morning Post reported.Officials from shipping firm APL, which has shipped SAF military equipment since the 1990s, later met Hong Kong Customs officials several times to resolve the issue.

Terrex vehicles (photo : TODAYonline)Earlier this month, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said in Parliament that as the property of the Singapore Government, the vehicles are protected by sovereign immunity even though they were being shipped by commercial carriers. This means they cannot legally be detained or confiscated by other countries.He also said PM Lee had written to Mr Leung to request for the Terrex vehicles to be returned.The Hong Kong authorities replied that investigations would take some time to complete, and the matter will be handled in accordance to its laws.On Tuesday, Hong Kong's Commissioner of Customs and Excise Roy Tang said in response to media queries that as an active and responsible trading partner in the global economy, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is committed to complying with international standards of strategic trade control, and Hong Kong implements a robust control system to achieve it."Import, export and transshipment/transit of strategic commodities in breach of licensing requirement are criminal offences punishable under the Hong Kong law. The action by the Hong Kong Customs on November 23, 2016 was taken because there was a suspected breach of the Hong Kong law," he said.Mr Tang added that Hong Kong Customs has completed its investigation of the suspected breach, and that the investigation might lead to criminal prosecution."The military vehicles and the associated equipment will be returned to Singapore through the carrier," he added.A spokesman with APL said: "APL is working with the relevant authorities and various stakeholders to ship the vehicles and associated equipment that were detained in Hong Kong in November 2016, back to Singapore."

USMC MV-22 Ospreys (photo : Stars and Stripes)The Marine Corps this spring is sending its largest aircraft element to date -- four tilt-rotor Ospreys and five Super Cobra and four Huey helicopters, all out of Hawaii -- to the next $25 million rotation of Marines to northern Australia as the Corps continues to redistribute its forces around the Pacific.The Marines are moving to four major forward areas of operation over the next decade -- Japan, Guam, Hawaii and Australia -- as part of a "distributed laydown" that seeks to deter growing threats in the vast Asia-Pacific region, particularly from from China and North Korea.The Osprey, with its long range and speed, is seen as a key connector for the Marine Corps in its new island-hopping strategy.In November 2011, President Barack Obama and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced that U.S. Marines would be sent on six-month rotational deployments to train with the Australian Defence Force in Darwin and elsewhere in the Northern Territory. The move puts the Marines closer to Southeast Asia and allows Australia, a key ally, to bolster its defense.

USMC AH-1W Super Cobra (photo : Ralph Duenas)The presence was to grow to a 2,500-member Marine Air-Ground Task Force during the 2016-2017 time frame, but officials said the sixth iteration of the deployment will remain at 1,250 Marines who are expected to arrive in Australia in April.Most of the Marines will be from the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, out of Camp Pendleton in California, Marine Corps Forces Pacific said.According to Australia's Department of Defence, 200 Marines deployed in 2012, 250 in 2013, 1,150 in 2014, 1,150 in 2015 and 1,250 in 2016.

But the deployment number is stuck at 1,250 for the time being as funding problems continue to be worked out for the full Marine Air-Ground Task Force of 2,500 with aircraft, vehicles and other equipment."The Marine Corps position to date has been that we will not grow the force beyond 1,250 Marines in Australia until we get some top-line (overall Marine Corps budget) relief for funding for military construction," Craig Whelden, executive director of Marine Corps Forces Pacific at Camp H.M. Smith, said at a recent Chamber of Commerce Hawaii event.

USMC UH-1Y Venom (photo : Phil Myers)Whelden added that "we've essentially tapped out what we can use of existing facilities and for sustainment." The deployment of 1,250 Marines costs about $25 million, he said. Marine Corps Forces Pacific is the tasking authority for the units participating in the rotations.Australia and the United States in October agreed to a more than $1.5 billion cost-sharing agreement to improve infrastructure in northern Australia as well as pay for ongoing costs over the 25-year pact -- ending a disagreement over who would pay the tab, The Australian newspaper reported.Australian media also said the Marine Corps rotational force is expected to double to its full strength of 2,500 by 2020.The four Hawaii MV-22 Ospreys scheduled to make the deployment are from Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 268 (VMM-268), while the five AH-1W Super Cobra and four UH-1Y Venom helicopters are part of Marine Light Attack Attack Helicopter Squadron 367 (HMLA-367). The Aviation Combat Element of 13 aircraft will be hosted at Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin.

USMC CH-53E Super Stallion (photo : Joseph Mc Govern)By comparison, the Marines sent four UH-1Y helicopters for the rotational deployment in 2016 and four big CH-53E Super Stallions in 2015, according to Australia's Defence Department.Whelden called the next contingent to deploy "a more diversified, a more capable force than we've had previously."The "distributed laydown" in the Pacific, which dovetails with the Marine Corps' expeditionary nature and ability to rapidly move forces from one place to another, calls for moving more than 4,000 Marines from Okinawa, Japan, to Guam.Whelden said hundreds of millions of dollars already have been invested on Guam, with wharves to support amphibious ready group ships already completed and ramp and hangar work ongoing for Ospreys and the new F-35B Lightning II, which the Corps called the "world's first operational supersonic short takeoff and vertical landing fighter.""We aren't basing F-35s in Guam, but we train on Guam a lot," Whelden said.Ten of the stealth fighters this week were sent to Iwakuni, Japan, with six more expected to arrive this summer. Whelden said the relocation of about 2,700 Marines from Okinawa to Hawaii is about 10 years away.(Military)